بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
HJ Chronicles: entry 002
“There are two types of ignorance; one of them is met with knowledge, and the other is met with patience” - Sh. Sālih al-Uthaymīn RH
The chances of you running into a psychopath or a serial killer are always higher when you’re outdoors in contrast to when you’re in your nest with the doors locked.
Where is the best place to meet frustrated Nigerians? My answer will be biased and I will say: the hospital.
From patients, to patient relatives, to pompous superiors, to lazy nonchalant colleagues.. The chances of being subjected to ignorant behavior are extremely high. The more alarming part is that trouble could meet you even when you mean well, and trouble could find you when you’re not seeking it.
One thing that could prevent an equally ignorant response from an individual subjected to such, is making excuses. There could be a hundred and more reasons for a stranger to be hostile or to act ignorantly, especially in a hospital setting. “Perhaps he/she was having a bad day”; “maybe I did something wrong”. Excuses remind us that the attacking party is human—strange to us, but still human—and they motivate us to have patience.
What then happens when the mind fails to muster up a single excuse? Chaos, possibly. Therefore, a better motivator should be seeking the pleasure of Allah.
Good and evil cannot be equal. [Prophet], repel evil with what is better and your enemy will become as close as an old and valued friend
But this cannot be attained except by those who are patient and who have been blessed with a great fortune
(Qur’an, 41:34-35)
ibn Abbās RA says about this verse: that is, repel with forbearance the ignorance of the one ignorant towards you.
It was reported from him also that he said: this is for a man to get insulted by another man, and the one insulted says, “if you are truthful, then may Allah forgive me. And if you are lying, then may Allah forgive you”
Al Hasan RH, Qatādah RH, and Mujāhid RH have said that the “great fortune” referred to in the verse refers to jannah.
So, Allah SWT describes the people of paradise as those who repel evil with goodness. If this isn’t the strongest motivator, then what is?
The next time someone cuts in front of you, or a receptionist decides to have an attitude, pounce on that opportunity to respond with kindness, perhaps you might be blessed with a great fortune, by His will.
May Allah bestow within us the characteristics of His righteous slaves.
السلام عليكم
This reflection is something I can apply to myself. A few days ago I was extremely irritated by my colleagues and I thank Allah for giving me the ability not to talk at that moment cause I know if I had said anything it would have been awful and I would have most likely regretted it. But the downside was I was passive aggressive all through the day and I think they sensed it
بارك الله فيك